Justification:
The population is severely fragmented, covering a very small area that is in decline. Today, less than 600 individuals of this species are known, covering an area of less than 2 km². The three known subpopulations are small, isolated from each other, and very sensitive to human pressure.

This plant is found only in the north-western part of Cyprus in three locations. Two of them are near the village of Panagia (Vouni and Aghia Moni monastery) and the third is near the Aghios Neophytos monastery.

This geophyte grows at an altitude of 250-900 m in moist, shaded crevices and banks, often under a closed canopy of old oak trees (Quercus infectoria subsp. veneris) and shrubs (Pistacia terebinthus). This plant is a perennial which overwinters as a bulb, in which nutrients are stored for the next spring. All species in the Scilla genus are known for their toxic properties, which may cause serious digestive disorders.

The survival of this species depends on the conservation of the remaining oak forests.These have been considerably reduced by logging for timber, road construction and expansion of farmland. Large old oak trees have become rare and scattered where there used to be a closed forest cover. While S. morrisii does not seem to be declining in numbers of individuals, the extent of its habitat is decreasing due to road construction and increased agricultural land use.

Actions in PlaceLegally: This species is protected by the Bern Convention (ratified by the Government of Cyprus in 1988), where it is listed in Appendix I. Based on the results of a LIFE Third Countries Project, the species is also listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. Moreover, it is included in the Red Data Book for the threatened plants of Cyprus, which will be published by the Government of Cyprus in 2005. The EU adhesion has clearly had a positive effect on species protection as management plans are now rapidly harmonized with European law and strictly enforced.

In situ: The two sites where this species is found have been proposed by the LIFE Third Countries Project as Special Protection Areas (SPA) by the Natura 2000 Network.

Ex situ: Small numbers of seeds have been collected from the wild and stored in the seed bank of the Department of Botany at the University of Athens.

Actions NeededIn situ: The Government of Cyprus should inform landowners of the presence of this rare taxon on their property, and prohibit any action that could threaten these populations.

Ex situ: Seeds representative of the genotype of this species need to be collected and stored in several seedbanks. This species should also be grown in botanical gardens.